Why Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Live is NJ’s best concert venue

I hope this is not a hot take, but I honestly feel that the best concert venue in New Jersey is not one of the big ones most people would think of. No disrespect to Prudential Center or MetLife Stadium. And while PNC Bank Arts Center is special enough to me with so much history that I still think of it as the Garden State Arts Center, plus you can't beat that cool, casual amphitheater vibe, I think there's a better place.

For the most enjoyable concert experience, I think Hard Rock Live in Atlantic City is the way to go.

Its full name is Hard Rock Live at Mark G. Etess Arena and that full name touches my heart for a special reason, which I’ll get to later. But I was just at this amazing venue Saturday night to see The Guess Who with Don Felder from the Eagles as the opener.

Why it's special

This venue does everything right. Friendly and accommodating folks at the box office and will-call window. Plenty of lanes on the way in so you don’t feel overcrowded and they really keep the lines moving. Careful scrutiny with security, but while being friendly and in no way intimidating.

Size matters

The best part about this venue, though, other than the amazing sound system, is its size. It’s big enough to get large-name acts, but small enough to still feel somewhat of an intimate connection with the stage. Depending on the event, the capacity here is 5,000 to 7,000 seats. I feel that’s perfect to bring the energy from the crowd, but without feeling claustrophobic even when it’s time to leave. Basically, there's no bad seat in the house.

Jeff Deminski/Townsquare Media

The show

By the way, Don Felder at 78 years old still sounded absolutely amazing and did so many of my favorite Eagles songs like "Already Gone" and "Hotel California."

Jeff Deminski/Townsquare Media

The Guess Who was nothing less than outstanding. Randy Bachman‘s guitar skills and voice are still at the top of the game. Burton Cummings was a great storyteller and also still had a terrific voice.

Jeff Deminski/Townsquare Media

Another wonderful thing about this concert venue is there’s a large space off to the side of the seating area where, at least for this show anyway, they allowed people to congregate and watch and dance. We spent half the show there in that space and the staff was very accommodating to people who wanted that more lively experience.

So if you want to see some truly big-name acts, but with a smaller more intimate vibe that still has great energy, terrific sound, lighting and screens, I strongly recommend Hard Rock Live.

A personal connection

Oh, and that personal connection to the full name, Hard Rock Live at Mark G. Etess Arena? It’s because what now feels like a lifetime ago, when I was in my early 20s, I worked for a radio station in Atlantic City.

I took a weekly call from Mark Etess himself, who ran the Taj Mahal for the Trump organization there. He would spill the tea and all the upcoming entertainment events and prize fights. He was a good guy, married with kids, and only 38 years old when he and two other Trump executives perished in a helicopter crash 40 miles north of Atlantic City. I have fond memories of his weekly phone call to the radio station and was so sad when he passed.

I’m grateful they honored him with a permanent name for this arena that brings so much entertainment to the Atlantic City market. I truly think it's the best.